WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney left advocates on both sides of the immigration debate flustered Thursday, remaining vague about his own views while accusing the president of pandering to Hispanics with a no-deportation order meant to protect 800,000 young illegal immigrants.

Vowing to “replace and supersede” the temporary order that President Barack Obama issued last week, Romney said, “I won’t settle for a stopgap measure. I will work with Republicans and Democrats to find a long-term solution.”

Romney offered few hints on what solution he would prefer. In a much-anticipated speech to influential Hispanic leaders, he sidestepped the knottiest elements of immigration policy — avoiding whether, for instance, he would allow deportations to resume for those covered by Obama’s order if elected.

But he struck a notably less strident tone than he did during the primaries, when he called for making it so hard for the nation’s 11 million or so illegal immigrants to find work that “self-deportation” — a proposal many Hispanics find offensive — would take care of the problem.

The lack of clarity left advocates across the spectrum puzzled and frustrated.

On the right, Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, called Romney’s address a “murky response” to Obama’s no-deportation policy. His “supersede and replace” formula was so vague, Stein said, he’s not sure what to expect — a “super-sized legislated amnesty” or a “meaningful effort to encourage illegal aliens to return to their home countries.”

Liberal immigration advocates also called Romney’s approach timid and opaque.

Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and an Obama campaign co-chairman, accused him of an “avoidance and diversion” approach to distance himself from unpopular stances.

The response in Orlando for Romney was muted — polite but not effusive — among the 1,000 members of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. Romney tweaked Obama for putting immigration reform on the back burner “until facing a tough reelection,” and “taking your vote for granted,” noting that Obama has skipped the group’s annual conference since 2008, the last time he ran for president.

Obama gets a chance for rebuttal when he speaks to the group on Friday. His campaign offered a preview by accusing the GOP nominee of chronic vagueness when it comes to the Dream Act, a long-stalled proposal to let illegal immigrants brought to the country as children remain, and eventually become citizens, if they’ve stayed in school or served in the military.

Poll after poll shows a wide gulf between most Hispanics and the Republican Party, and Obama’s no-deportation policy boosted his standing with this growing demographic.

“Platitudes about legal immigration policies were expected. But if Romney really does want to be president, he can’t continue to dodge the key questions,” said Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice, a pro-immigration group.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio — whom Romney is eyeing as a running mate, and who has been drafting an alternative to the DREAM Act that doesn’t include a path to citizenship — defended Romney’s refusal to detail all of his policies on immigration.

“This is not an issue that’s easily solved in campaign talking points or bumper stickers,” Rubio said over breakfast Thursday with reporters. “I don’t think he has struggled to articulate his position. He supports legal immigration.”

AT A GLANCE / Immigration reform

For the first time since becoming the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney outlined several proposed changes to the country's immigration system.

Reallocate green cards to help keep immigrant families together and end immigration limits on the spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents.

Work with states and businesses to update the temporary worker visa program.

Grant a green card to anyone who earns an advanced degree in the United States.

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